FA Cup: Plymouth Argyle Shocks Liverpool, Leaders of PL
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Synopsis
In a stunning FA Cup upset, bottom-of-the-Championship Plymouth Argyle defeated Premier League leaders Liverpool 1-0 at Home Park. Ryan Hardie's second-half penalty sealed the victory, marking Liverpool's first FA Cup exit to a lower league team since 1984.
Key Takeaways
- Plymouth Argyle defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the FA Cup.
- Ryan Hardie's penalty in the second half secured the win.
- This is Liverpool's first FA Cup loss to a lower league team since 1984.
- The match took place at Home Park.
- Joe Gomez suffered an injury during the match.
Plymouth, Feb 9 (NationPress) Liverpool’s FA Cup campaign faced an unexpected halt on Sunday as they fell 0-1 to Plymouth Argyle, who are currently at the bottom of the Championship standings, at Home Park.
The match was decided by a penalty in the second half from Ryan Hardie after Harvey Elliott was deemed to have handled the ball within his own penalty area.
This loss signifies the first occasion since January 1984 that Liverpool has been eliminated from the FA Cup by a lower league team while sitting at the top of the table, a record that was previously held against Brighton.
The match kicked off with Plymouth taking the initiative and creating early opportunities. Hardie tested Liverpool's defense within the first minute, while Trey Nyoni attempted to score for the visitors, yet the Plymouth defense remained robust. In the 10th minute, Liverpool faced an injury setback when Joe Gomez had to exit the game, replaced by Isaac Mabaya. Despite this disruption, the Reds managed to maintain their composure for much of the first half. Plymouth also had a penalty appeal dismissed when Kostas Tsimikas clashed with Mustapha Bundu in the box, but the referee allowed play to continue.
As the first half neared its end, Liverpool’s best opportunity arose when James McConnell saw his deflected shot saved by Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard. The initial 45 minutes were fiercely contested, with both teams battling for possession and only managing to create a few clear-cut chances.
Plymouth broke the stalemate early in the second half, with Hardie converting a penalty in the 52nd minute following Elliott's handball in the box. This put Liverpool at a disadvantage. The home team nearly extended their lead shortly after, as Hardie's shot hit the outside of the post after a free kick.
Liverpool responded by making substitutions to inject more attacking power, bringing on Darwin Nunez, but they struggled to produce significant chances. Luis Diaz had a half-chance, while McConnell missed with a long-range attempt. In stoppage time, Diogo Jota forced a strong save from Hazard, and Nunez was thwarted with a close-range header, but it proved insufficient.
Plymouth held on to claim a memorable victory, securing a spot in the fifth round of the tournament.
